The Irish standard., 1887-08-06


with whom they knew he had not beel
familiar for. years. His sister Kat,
looked troubled, too; but his quiet man
ner of explaining the matter set her a
rest. Miss O'Gorman felt quite agi
tated, and shrank before the penetrat
Il ing look which the cold, naughty beau
ty fixed upon her.
How lonely we'll be after you
Fanny said Brian, regarding the
graceful little figure. costly wrapped ul
for travelling, with a look Of affection
ate regret.
FannY's soft eyes filed with tears, as
she tried to say cheerfully: you know
I'll come soon again. But little
). Fanny's tears fell down her round
cheeks for all that.
| Miss Evans quickly glanced from one
to the other. She moved her chair with
an impatient jerk as she fancied that
Brian had observed her, and nathless
| the scornful curl of her lip, disclosing
the ivory-white teeth, there was a
shadow on her brow as she gazed into
the cracking wood FIRE with that pecu-
liar look betokening deep thought. So
absorbed was she that Fanny and Miss
Purcell had left the room to see to re-
fractory traveling-bag that would not
shut, without her being aware of their
absence. On discovering that she was
! alone with Brian Purcell, Miss Evans
cast one hurried glance around and
rose to her feet. Brian had been stand
ing all the time, with his arms folded.
"Brian!"
He started; fcr the voice, and the
look that accompanied it. were exactly
what they used to be- She needed no
verbal assurance that he WAS attending
to her.
Am / forgiven?' she asked.
Yes he replied, 'of course-that is if
there Was anything to forgive.
'But--but-may We not meet as we
used to do--as in old times?'
Oh! that rosy smile, and the fond
look, quickly yelled by the dropping
hds And, oh! the plaintiye music in
which she uttered the heart-swe}ling
words, old Il mes!' Brian wavered H.
resolutely; but just then the door
opened. and he answered No Miss
Evans turned quickly towards the door,
and fearful eyes Of Fanny C'Go1man
met hers. AT that moment it was au~
nounced that the carriage WAS ready. !
and Miss Evans was hastily leaving
without saying Good by to any ore.
Fanny moved aside to let her pass, bat
she stopped and held out hel: hand;
Fanny placed hers in i, and the
queen)y beauty drew the shrinking
little maiden towards her, and stopping
kissed her cheeks. Before Fanny mad
recovered from her surprise, The car
riage was whirling at a rapid pace
along the avenue.
Good by, Brian
Good by, dear little Fanny, and
don't forget Christmas
lie pressed her hand, and was secur-
ing the rug about her feet when his
father jerked The reins inpatiently.
touched the horse with the whip, anc
they were gone. Brian did feel lonely;
but after which vehicle did his thoughts
go as he watched the moon going down
behind the mountain? Fortunately, he
Just then remembered his promise to
Common Shea, and ordered his horse to
be saddled at daybreak that NO time be
lost. He would ride over bimself and
inform Sally Cavanagh Of little Neddy's
departure for America, and endeavor
70 assure her {as Connor begged lie
vould) that, with the help Of God, it
was all tor che best
Rejecting upon this changed the cur
rent of his thoughts. They turned
neither to the right nor to the left of
;he Fingerpost to follow the faithless
dol Of his youth, OF the gentle little
maiden whom, something whispered to
lim, he had not priced her real worth,
put by the Gap, and On with that sor-
:oWful cavalcade, on to the sea. He
oondered over the. dismal tbeme-the
Exodus of the Gael-deeply and long.
And nothing but trust in az all-wise
:'rovidence enabled Brian Purcell to
,oid the conclusion that we were a.
loomed race.
CHAPTER V. r
It was the on third or fourth day after
7anny's departure, that Kate Purcell ,
ad letter from her After reading it. .
Gate fixed her eyes on Brian, as if she
you'd read him, too.
He held q letter, directed to his faith
/, in his hand, trying, as his sister :
bought, to decipher the motto Oh the
cal.
Kate's scrutinizing look deepened to :
ne of displeasure as she said, reproach- :
ully, Pon my word, the outside Of the 7
etter appears to have more interest for :
on than the contents Of this 9